"Better than last year"
I have a soft spot in my heart for Vancouver. In 2005 it was my first full marathon. I've returned for the last two years to run the half marathon. I love the city, the course, and the support.
Unfortunately, it did rain on this one although it wasn't NEARLY as bad as last year which kept away a lot of the spectators. On a nice day the course is FULL of cheering (2005), but alas the weather did not cooperate.
The bands were a nice touch. I'd love to see more, but at the same time the scenery is so gorgeous that it's a show in itself.
Love running through Stanley Park. That alone makes it worth it.
I can't believe there are complaints about the finish area! My major pet peeve is open finisher's areas, where everyone and their brother comes in and acts like it's free soup day at the shelter, feeding their kids, Uncle Joe, and the grandparents off the food that is SUPPOSED to be for the runners! In Seattle many many people come in to nothing left but scraps. Here there was plenty of food for everyone. I returned right near the end (to show my husband the Nemo-mobile) and there was SO much food left over they were giving away bags filled with cookies, crackers, oranges, and bagels...full packages of them! Other marathons could LEARN from this type of organization.
Thanks to the course support. They were wonderful. TNT, you outdid yourselves this year! Thank you for making sure everyone felt special! It really was a great race and bonus, every water station had water this year! – T.K.
"Vancouver marathon is great!"
The directors and all the volunteers should be proud of the great marathon you put on May 6, 2007. It was awesome having BC Place stadium for the pre-race routine (washrooms, gear check, stretching etc) and it was especially appreciated after finishing the 26.2!! We were able to recover in the warm, dry environment and collect our gear and enjoy the food and visiting with friends and family there. I even enjoyed a hot shower in the BC Lions locker room that was made available to us. (I ran Boston 3 weeks ago and we waited out in the cold and wind trying to get someone's attention in a school bus to fetch our gear. I then had to change in an alcove in the street to get out of my wet running strip and into dry clothes, so I could start to warm up.)
As a local resident I'm proud to recommend the Vancouver Marathon to anyone as the support and facilities are second to none. If only the rain could have held off that would have been great - completely out of the race director’s hands. Only the politicians are going to try to get into the weather changing business with our tax dollars to fight global warming!! Thanks for a great day and event on Sunday, May 6th, 2007! – R.G.
Midwestern Feedback
Coming from Chicago I have come to respect the hills that back home we would call mountains. Buyer beware, the full marathon course has a little bit more grade than you will see in the course layout.
Past my own personal struggle to elevate, I would have to give many thanks to some of the best fans I have seen in a race. I swear that more people showed up after the drizzle started.
There was not one aid station that was not fully supported and stocked. The volunteers were amazing and enthusiastic.
I come from a very pretty city, but I have to tip my hat to Vancouver. This entire city was an exciting run from start to finish. While I do not know the entire city, I have to disagree that we ran through the ghetto. Being a city boy most of my life I have come to appreciate the variety that most major cities are going to offer.
I am writing this since I put a lot of time in reading about races before I sign-up. I have to say that I was surprised to see many of the past concerns seemed to be addressed in 2007: we were allowed to wait for the race to start inside (warm!!!), etc. – J.G.
"Well Organized - Nice Scenic Course!"
The organization was very good. The Expo was fine and packet pick up was easy. The course was relatively easy and very scenic for an inner city race. We didn't have to spend many miles going through boring industrial areas like a lot of courses. I didn't think the hills were bad but some people disagreed with me. The fans were a great help and I was surprised to see so much support despite the rain. Pre and Post race location indoors was terrific. In that respect Vancouver is better than New York, Chicago and Boston. We would have frozen in the rain after the race without shelter. There were plenty of post race snacks. Vancouver is one of the races where they provided enough post race food for marathoners and half marathoners. 1st time I have ever had milk served after a race. – S.H.
